The Scalp Hunters by David Thompson Read Free Book Online Page B

for his father and mother to finish their talk, but he slapped his horse’s legs and hurried off.
    â€œLet us go,” Waku said, and followed him.
    Reluctantly Tihi goaded her animal on. She was not in the best of spirits. The long ride to the prairie had given her a lot of time to think, and her thoughts ran in troubling channels. As grateful as she was to Nate and Winona King—and she was sincerely grateful—she was not so sure she liked the idea of her son taking their daughter for his wife. There was the issue of Dega leaving their lodge. She was certain Evelyn would insist on it. And their children; would they be raised in the Nansusequa way or the white way? No, the more Tihi considered it, the more convinced she became that her son should not marry Evelyn King.
    A jab of her heels quickened her mount’s gait so that she passed her husband and her daughters and caught up to her eldest child. Dega was staring intently after Evelyn, so love-struck it would amuse her were the consequences not so serious.
    â€œYou would think she would wait for us.”
    Dega had not looked around to see who had joined him. Now he did, and said with great admiration, “She is brave, is she not, Mother?”
    Tihi chose her words with care. By no degree must she show disapproval. He might resent it. “Yes, Evelyn is brave. Brave is not always wise, though.”
    â€œIn what way?”
    â€œLook at her. She must know you care for her, yet she rides into danger with no thought for your feelings.” Tihi smiled to blunt the blow.
    â€œShe thinks of all of us. Did you hear her about the war party?”
    â€œI did. Which is why I would head west to the mountains. Instead, she takes us farther out into the prairie, farther from our valley, farther from safety.”
    Dega glanced over his shoulder at his father and his sisters.
    â€œI worry for Teni and Miki,” Tihi continued. “Remember what those white men almost did to Teni? A war party might do the same to them.”
    â€œNate King says that rarely happens.” But Dega was worried now, too.
    â€œRare does not mean never.”
    â€œI would give my life to prevent that from happening to them.”
    â€œYou are a fine brother and son.” Tihi adopted a lighthearted air. “But listen to us. Criticizing Evelyn when, as you say, she is only concerned for our welfare. She is a dear girl.”
    â€œVery dear.”
    â€œYour father thought the same of me when he was courting me. It was different for us, though, since we were both Nansusequa.”
    â€œLove is love,” Dega said.
    It was the first time her son openly used that word in referring to Evelyn King. Tihi realized she was broaching the subject at just the right time. “There are different kinds of love, my son. There is the love we share for Manitoa and all Manitoa provides. There is the love of a father and a mother for their children, and the love between brothers and sisters. Then there is the special love between a man and a woman. When they are of the same people or from the same tribe, they have much in common and their love is that much stronger. When they are not, their love is less than it could be.”
    â€œLess how, Mother?”
    â€œThe wife will want things her way, and the husband will want things his way. There are disagreements, arguments, fights.”
    â€œNot if they get along well.”
    â€œThat is important, yes. But they cannot help being who they are. They cannot help how they were raised. They will not always agree, not as two people would who share the same beliefs.”
    â€œSo are you saying it is wrong for a man and a woman to became husband and wife if they do not have a lot in common?”
    Tihi gave him her sweetest smile. “I would never say that, Son. It is for the man and the woman to decide. Do they live in harmony with each other, as the Nansusequa believe they should, or do they argue and fight